A condition or disease present at birth. May be - Genetic e.g. Down`s syndrome or - Acquired before birth e.g. Congenital syphilis - NB, a congenital condition may be present at birth, but not be recognised e.g. Muscular dystrophy, which probably will not be diagnosed until the child fails to walk at the expected age

Congenital: Present at birth. A condition that is congenital is one that is present at birth. There are numerous uses of 'congenital' in medicine. There are, for example, congenital abnormalities. (For more examples, see below.) Versus 'genetic': One dictionary erroneously defines 'congenital' as meaning: 'Occurring prior to birth, due to parent's ...Found on http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=15599

Con·gen'i·tal adjective [ From Congenite .] Existing at, or dating from, birth; pertaining to one from birth; born with one; connate; constitutional; natural; as, a congenital deformity. See Connate . Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/webster/C/136

<embryology> Existing at and usually before, birth, referring to conditions that are present at birth, regardless of their causation. ... Origin: L. Congenitus = born together ... (18 Nov 1997) ... Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/local/20973

A characteristic, condition or disease that is recognized at birth, or that is believed to have been present since birth, including conditions which are inherited or caused by an environmental factor.Found on http://www.pregnology.com/AZ/C/8

Type: Term Pronunciation: kon-jen′i-tăl Definitions: 1. Existing at birth, referring to certain mental or physical traits, anomalies, malformations, diseases, and like findings, which may be either hereditary or due to an influence occurring during gestation up to the moment of birth. Synonyms: congenitusFound on http://www.medilexicon.com/medicaldictionary.php?t=19800